Tag: End Times

Categories
Examining Biblical Scripture

When comes the 1000 Years?

Satan Bound

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years” (Revelation 20:1-2)

A close reading/re-reading of Revelation 20 gives me the notion of the following:

The 1000 year binding has already been, I believe, from  approximately 500 to 1500 AD. Since then, the devil has been free to deceive the nations.

After the Romans made Christianity the state religion, there was much that went wrong within the Church of Jesus Christ. But the nation states — of the West at least — were all kingdoms ruled by God-fearing kings.

The Reformation, which made available the Word of GOD to non-clergy, gave a freedom not experienced previously and a Truth hitherto hidden from the time of Christendom. The truth could be studied, digested, practised, no longer necessarily under the interpretation or influence of scholars in power. It was a time of revelation, enlightenment, study and truth.

Satan Loosed

But as the Word of GOD became available to the common man, so too did Satan become free to confuse and confound. 

“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.” (Revelation 20:7)

Although there has always been war, it is since 1500 that war has become more sophisticated: nation state against nation state, conflict arising across vast distances and with increased levels of violence and destruction. War culminated in World War I (the Great War to end all wars — such a major deception) and World War II (the epitome of anti-Semitism with the most sophisticated attempt to exterminate the Jews). To this day, Satan continues to confuse, divert, oppress and destroy humanity, not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well.

End of the Church Age

And so, I believe we are now at the end of the Church Age. Faith has dwindled.  Man is waiting, whether he knows it or not, for the final war: the fire that destroys.

“And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Revelation 20:9b-10)

Once Satan is cast out forevermore, a new heaven and a new earth will be instated. I consider they are not necessarily new physical places, but our heaven and earth refreshed, free of evil, and with one king in the character of Jesus. He rules and reigns, and Satan, the beast and false prophet are no more.

Judgment

“And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” (Revelation 20:12)

There will be a judgment toward those who have never accepted Jesus. It will, I believe, include those who attest to know him but whom he does not recognise (Matthew 7:23). There are wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24); there are ones who have heard the Word but who’s “soil” fell on shallow or rocky ground (Mark 4:3-8). 

Reigning with Jesus

And yet, “Hallelujah,” there will be those who have already been ruling and reigning with him for a thousand years. These are they who are the first resurrection, who were once martyred for Jesus’ name and who have been raised from the dead: “Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4b)

And there are also those who’s names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, who have known Jesus but who either died naturally, not as martyrs. This is the Second Resurrection.

And what of those who are alive at the Second Coming of Jesus/Yeshua, the Messiah? I believe those written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will join the host. There will be no more grief or evil in the new Age as, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

And all who live will attest to the name of the Prince of Peace. Hallelujah and Amen.

Categories
Supernatural & Prophetic

Who is ready, who is listening?

Is Anybody Listening

I’m a Christian, that is to say, I follow Jesus and believe every word in the Bible is from God. Oh, we may choose to interpret it our own way, but His intention is to give us access to His heart and His ways. If we choose to follow, we will have abundant life in this world and in the next.

Abundance

Abundant is a term that has many interpretations. The first or most obvious may be as regards financial security.

Jesus never tried to get rich, and yet, wasn’t completely poor. He did not lack but he did not have plenty. So, what is this Abundant Life he is referring to, if not an existence with wealth and comfort?

Abundance is love, and the ripple effect that love produces.

Love. Kindness. Brotherly love. Fellowship, camaraderie, mutual respect and trustworthiness are all a part of this, I believe. An abundant life is a life full of good relationships with neighbours, family and fellow believers. No one died regretting working too little but many die with the regret they did not commit enough time or focus to their relationships.

Fellowship

And with whom are we to fellowship? Who is our brother? The Jew, and fellow believers (those who believe in and follow Yeshua/Jesus), be they Jewish or Gentile, are our closest neighbours. In fact, I’m thinking scripturally-speaking, we who believe and follow Jesus — or Yeshua — are all Messianic and to label only Jewish believers as such separates what could draw us closer together.

We who know Jesus are called to love all our neighbours; I believe I am mandated to begin by encouraging the fellowship of believers, regardless of their denomination or their cultural heritage or colour, to reach out to the Jewish people. Fellowship includes GOD’s chosen people, the Jews, and then the heirs by adoption, the gentile believers. And so, once we have reached out to the Jews, we must also stretch out our hands to all those who believe irrespective of education, background or financial means.

A Shift has come

In my life a definite shift has come as regards fellowship. I believe my first call is to the Jewish people, God’s Chosen, and next to fellow believers who seek the same. Isn’t it time we truly make the Jewish people jealous for God? (Romans 11:11)

They are called to fulfil Aliya (return to their homeland of Israel) and find a deep relationship with their God: Yehovah. And it is time for them to discover Messiah has come in Yeshua – their messiah whom we call Jesus, our saviour. (Isaiah 49:6)

Who is listening

Why me?

Why has GOD called upon my husband and I, no doubt along with a merry band of others dispersed here and there among the cast of believers (some of whom I know of and have called dear friends), to have this insight into the times? Actually, we are not so few.

Examining our Hebraic Roots is quite trendy. But this goes deeper. There are some pastors in America for example, who are leaving their denominations — or in the case of AOG are being supported as they shift — to worship corporately on Saturday rather than on Sunday, Saturday being the seventh day of the week, the day the LORD rested after the creation of the World, the day He calls the Sabbath.

But the message takes time to reach the ears and hearts of Believers.

I just don’t want folks to get left behind. In these days, there are many who are comfortable in their churches, living their somewhat holy lives, enjoying fellowship with one another and the LORD.  For me, and a lot of others, church just isn’t enough anymore. GOD wants much more than the Church of previous generations. And He’s showing us what He wants.

Test His Word

Go on… Look up End Times scriptures: Matthew 24, Daniel 12, Ezekiel 38, Revelation 8-9 and onwards. Read. Devour what the LORD has told us will come to pass. We are in the midst of calamity and change. Study to show yourself approved (2 Timothy 2:15) and discover what you’re meant to be doing… now. Prepare the way for others to know our GOD. The God of the Universe, the Father of Creation, the Prince of Peace and the Wonderful Councillor. (Isaiah 9:6)

GOD isn’t doing church the way He used to. So many who love Him have long departed Sunday worship and are at home, keeping in touch with GOD but not with fellow believers. Why do you think that is? It’s simple: that is not where GOD wants us to be. He wants us grafted into His structure, His will, His way. The time for the Gentiles has finished and it’s time to draw His people back to Himself, and for them to acknowledge their Messiah has come.

Why now?

It’s been a long time coming, and in fact, it’s been here for a good while. Church doesn’t cut it for many and in fact, generations have been in large part lost to the Gospel message as shared through the established Church. Jesus — Yeshua came in the flesh to do two things:

  1. To restore the Hebrews back to their God and
  2. To offer salvation to the world.

He came for the Gentiles to provoke the Jews to jealousy. Now it is time to draw them in to the Truth.

The church has compromised itself all in the name of relevance. The message has been watered down in many cases, and downright distorted in others. The passing of many men of GOD, the latest being Billy Graham, has marked the shift too. It is time to follow where our Father is leading… back to our Jewish roots (torn from the early church only a few centuries after its birth).

History*

The people of the Way, who followed the Rabbi Yeshua, were a Jewish sect. Called Christians by those who did not believe, the name stuck and eventually they were kicked out of Synagogue and later kicked back by turning their backs on the Judaic roots and capitalising on pagan festivals, rather than GOD’s feasts.

(*There is much more available on this found in my book, Who is God for the First Nations People (see ad below))


It’s time we go back to the true history of Genesis and Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. It’s time we engage with Jewish people, Messianic Jews and the Father in the Way He created for us. Not by might nor power, not by obligation nor a heavy yoke, but by His Spirit. (Zechariah 4:6)

Challenge

Will you take on the challenge? Will you put on the Will of the Father and seek only His Kingdom? When you do, you’ll discover deeper truth and deeper relationship with Jesus, and a deeper connection to who you are in Him.

True freedom is not a heavy yoke but it isn’t doing whatever you want either

It is not by might nor by power but by the Spirit. So let’s not study and then put on our own effort in this. But rather, let’s surrender to discover not only the freedom we have in Christ, but also the joy of the LORD in being all He has created us to be.

Shalom and GOD bless.

Categories
Examining Biblical Scripture

God is waiting for the Perfect Time and the Perfect Relationship

God is watching and waiting. Who will put their heads above the parapet? Who will stand out in the crowd, shouting – via internet or otherwise – the goodness of a Creator God who shaped the universe, spoke into the non-existent atmosphere to create it, descended to earth as a lowly man simply to undo the wrongs of every other man. This was done simply to prove His undying love to a dying world, so that He would have relationship with us?

I will.

My concept of God begins with a Judeo-Christian Father figure who promised to one man that He would make him a father of many nations. That man was Abram. He became Abraham, renamed by the Creator simply because of his faith. He slipped a bit, listening to his wife and having intercourse with her handmaiden because they were to have a son and his wife, Sarai, was too old. That child, Ishmael, gave rise to the Arab nations. But that was not the son God had planned. The son who would follow his father and be a patriarch of a nation after God’s own heart was Isaac, son of old Abraham and his elderly wife Sarah. And Isaac’s son, Jacob, became the third patriarch. His name too was changed to reflect the peoples of God: Israel.

God created man and woman to relate with. He waited centuries for a man who would have the faith for relationship. He waited for three generations that would grow and grow until, at last, a nation could be born. The Hebrews descended from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but they had no home.

More time passed until Father God saw the man who would lead God’s people: the Hebrews, to the land promised to them through Abraham 500 years before, a land flowing with milk and honey, a land that would one day have territory, but also a name. The land was Canaan, the man to lead them there was Moses.

This Father God loved and nurtured His people, defended them against peril, both physical and human. He poured out his love and reminded them of His promises. He gave them the Promised Land. Yet, they rejected Him, time and again. They still reject Him and yet always there is a remnant of those who love and trust Him. Always there is a remnant. And though the land was given and lost, millennium on, it has been restored again. The Creator of the Universe keeps His promises.

Who is this God? He is the God of Abraham,Isaac and Jacob. He is the God of power and of promises. He has not broken one promise. But He is waiting for people to stand with Him.

Some of the Hebrew descendants had faith. Although many did not, some — such as the Apostles of Jesus — did. And still some believed. And some believe even now in the Jesus of the New Testament.

God is patient. He is also steadfast and contrary to many in the church who say God has redistributed His people, He has not really. He hasn’t replaced but added to…

God’s covenant has never changed. His promises are sure. He has loved Israel, both those who have loved Him and those who have denied Him. He grafted in Gentiles (non-Jews), not as replacements but as additions. Some have loved Him and some have rejected Him, just as with the Jews.

He continues to wait, for the right time, for Messiah to come to the Jews. One of His promises has been a Messiah. The Saviour of the World is Jesus, proclaimed by many Gentiles throughout history. He is one and the same as the Messiah of the Jews, whose Hebrew name is Yeshua.

Yeshua, Jesus, Messiah, Saviour of the World, has come and will come again. God is waiting and watching for the right time.

We guess. We wonder. We wait. But it is faith who will bring Him, and God’s choice of time.

In the meantime, the original branches and the grafted in are meant to combine in One New Man: Jew and Gentile, Believers in Yeshua, Jesus: the Son of Man and the Son of God, worshipping together, joining in one faith in the Father of the Universe, whom Jesus points us to.

Then God will surely call His son to return to the earth, to rule and to reign over all— Believer and unbeliever alike, so that the peace of God is restored at last. And the earth will flow as it was always meant to flow: full of life and love, truth and joy, hope and everlasting reign of justice, goodness and holiness.

This is a picture of our Creator: One God, lover of His creation, longing for relationship and patiently waiting for the fulfilment of His purpose: to create a universe in harmony with itself and in relationship with Him.

This is my concept of God. This is how I connect with God and seek to connect with others of His children. He never stops reaching to me, changing me, teaching me, loving me and growing me into His perfection. And so, I seek to imitate Him and His son, reaching out to others, waiting, longing, hoping for deeper, truer relationship has He has designed us to have, with Him and, I think, with each other.

Categories
Politics and Society today

Two Allies to meet again: Hope is in healthy alliances

As tension mounts over catastrophic weather and military threat, two powerful allies may meet a third time in less than a year — a step, I believe, toward supernatural sanity and world peace.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet President Donald Trump… again.

And we continue to pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.

On Trump and Kim Jong-Un

A few short weeks ago, many laughed and were angered at Trump who threatened the Korean leader after he sent a missile toward the US. Reporters and anti-trumpeters accused the American president of being a twin with Kim Jong-Un. But as the leader of North Korea then set his sights on Japan, no one laughed any longer.

Trump’s declaration of “Fire and Fury” was met with sarcasm and accusation; and yet, his words were effective. The North Korean backed off from his threat against the American base in Guam.

Instead, he sent another test missile; but it was over Japan, and it was perceived as “no threat to the United States”.

Now the media is responding differently too, to this missile which flew over Japan. They aren’t talking about Trump or Kim Jong-Un. Now they are talking about Washington and Pyongyang. Why? Because it’s brings distance and detachment which these leaders and the world needs.

We continue to pray for peace.

Two Allies to meet Again

And as a positive side to the tension in the world, there is hope when two powerful people meet to strengthen their alliance. President Trump will meet with PM Benjamin Netanyahu — again — in September.

September… September… September

September is the first month of the Jewish Calendar. It is the month when there is a feast of Tabernacles, reflective of the Hebrews in Egypt erecting tents to show their faith. It is the month in which the 6 day war took place in 1967, fifty years ago. It was unprovoked by the Jews but at its end, Jerusalem was returned to them, fulfilling scripture.

This September promises to be a blockbuster in terms of God’s authority being revealed again. It is 100 years since the Balfour Declaration, the British mandate to return Israel back the the Jews. It’s 50 years since the war which brought Jerusalem back to the Jews. 50 is significant to God: it’s the Jubilee, when ownership is returned back and debts are lifted.

Personally, I believe something amazing and threatening is about to happen this autumn.

That the most powerful leader in the world is allied with the most powerful leader supernaturally, I find comforting, encouraging and very exciting.

Will President Trump meet again with PM B Netanyahu later this month?

I’m counting the days, marking each day of September as though it is significant, and waiting, waiting for the Feast of Tabernacles and all the LORD may surely do. I don’t know what exactly is going to happen, but it seems to me it will be profound. I can hardly wait, but while I do, I pray, I yearn and I look deeply within to make sure I have nothing against a neighbour.

Categories
Examining Biblical Scripture

Are you following Jesus?

A Meaty Word

God does not change. His Word does not change. But God moves. Are we following?

In the desert 4000 years ago, God gave the Hebrews a sign to follow. Today, like the pillar of light at night, and the pillar of smoke by day, we need to follow God, undeterred by fear, distraction, assumption or the fulfilment of our worldly interests.

When Moses led the Hebrews out of Egypt and across the Red Sea, they told him to go to the mountain and talk to God. They didn’t want to speak to Him directly.

When Samuel was prophet to the Hebrews, they told him they wanted a King. They didn’t want to follow God’s priests and prophets, but wanted to be like other nations.

Just as the Hebrews needed fresh manna every day while they were in the desert, in order to survive, so we need fresh manna daily to survive spiritually. Are you receiving your manna every day, or are you living on the stale bread that was yesterday’s revelation?

We are a chosen priesthood. We are salt and light. But salt that has lost its savour is not good for anything.

This is not a message for Unbelievers, although anyone seeking to discover who the Creator is — whom we call our heavenly father — and how Jesus, His son, made intimacy with the Father possible and forgiveness attainable, is welcome to read and is invited to receive God’s Spirit through faith in Jesus. But this message primarily is for those of us who proclaim Jesus as Lord and Saviour. I’m asking: are you truly following him daily, surrendered to the Father’s will, allowing the Son to point to the Father and lead you in Truth, Rightness with God, and total surrender to His Spirit?

When Moses led the people to the Promised Land, they did not go in. For forty years they were held back because of lack of faith. I don’t want to be held back. I don’t want to miss God’s blessing because I think I know best what His Word means and what His ways are. I don’t want to assume my understanding of His Word, the Bible, is as infinite as is my God. I don’t want to be afraid of the New Wine Skin and stick to the old, safe understanding of my faith. What about you?

Throughout church history, when a Godly man made a discovery in the Word, he preached his new revelation and was lamb-basted for it. Once it was accepted as truly divine revelation, a denomination was formed. People clung onto the new leader and felt assured they had The Truth. But a new wall surrounded this new clan, who — like others before them — listened to their leader and allowed the leader to fellowship with God on their behalf. But God wants us each to fellowship with Him. It’s great and important to seek new revelation; it’s important to mentor and to be mentored by a spiritual head. But actually, any revelation of A Truth from the LORD comes to express one aspect or another that He wishes people to know at a given time. He does not reveal the whole truth. In fact, even Jesus did not know when his time would be to return. Even Jesus did not know all of the Father’s heart and will.

As it was with John Knox in Scotland, as it was with the Baptists late in the 1800’s, so it is even now amongst Evangelicals and Charismatics: God keeps revealing, keeps doing a new thing, but only a remnant follow. And the remnant are mistrusted by the rest. Each time God carries only a remnant into new understanding of the Truth and they battle against the reviling of the larger body of Believers. I pray no Believer will miss out on Jesus’ return, but am seriously concerned many will, because of this attitude that what is New is not to be trusted.

Following Jesus

What an arrogant title I’ve chosen for this message. Who am I to question who is following Jesus? But this message is important to anyone who subscribes to the idea that, to be a Christian, we are to follow the Lord Jesus: follow his example, take his word seriously, and love the LORD our God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and (then*) love our neighbour as ourself. (Matthew 22:37)

What I’m concerned about is that not only has humanity fallen down since the beginning of time, in its following of the Creator of the universe, but it is still falling down, taking for granted the cross, but most of us who are steadfastly walking are walking our own walk. Father God sent his son, a loving person of great wisdom and sacrifice, so that we could best see the Father through the eyes of the Son, and discover for ourselves who God is. Yet even those who are dedicated, committed, born again, fall. There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) but what does that verse go on to say, “for those who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

Is the Holy Spirit active in your life? He is totally accessible, completely available, and wholly dedicated to enabling you to live a life of surrender. Are you willing to live that life? He is refreshing and will quench your thirst for God. Are you thirsty for God? I am.

Faith without works is dead (James 2:17). And works is not only feeding the poor, preaching the gospel, taking care of prisoners. Works includes our walk with the Lord. We are called and committed followers.

We all fall. But when we fall are we repentant? The core of our faith is at stake as we consider this question. Do we take for granted our walk with God, our salvation, our place in His presence in Heaven? Or to we value Him and our relationship with Him above everything else? Do we walk a surrendered life or is our life, after our surrender, our own?

This is the question for today: Are we living a truly surrendered life?

As time is short, and I believe Jesus is returning very soon, I am urging every reader to:

  1. get into his Bible, use a search engine such s Bible Gateway to look up scriptures, find what the Word says about the Holy Spirit, and learn
  2. study under a pastoral leader by all means, but don’t take for granted his understanding of the Word, but dig into it yourself, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you into God’s truth for today
  3. pray for God’s divine revelation to come to you, and for His Holy Spirit to fill you
  4. ask for protection against false teaching, wrong understanding, and for discernment of Truth
  5. trust God hears and answers your prayers

We who have become born again have made a commitment to follow Jesus. He has made a way for us to draw close, through intimacy with the Holy Spirit who hovered over the earth at creation and is the power and presence of God who dwells within us now. He convicts us of Truth… and we need to be listening.

This word is a bit tougher than what I usually write. But the imperative is clear: we need to be surrendered, not taking for granted our relationship and salvation, but striving to draw closer to Father God every step of our way. Jesus points us in the right direction. Let’s continue to run our race to completion. Jesus is coming soon… we do not know the day or the hour… but like the virgins with their lamps, we need to have ours full of the oil of the Holy Spirit, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom who is Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)

In coming weeks, I’ll be downloading some revelation I’ve had over the last several months. I hope you’ll test it rather than dismiss it. I hope you’ll share your discoveries with others. I hope it will make you draw closer to God as He draws closer to you.

 

*brackets are my own for I have inserted “then” because I believe to love our neighbour first is not of the Lord, but is Humanism and human effort rather than an act of surrender to God.

Categories
Politics and Society today

Christian Persecution in the Last Days

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

(2 Timothy 3:12)

I recently viewed the movie The Promise, an historical romance based on the facts surrounding the Armenian Genocide in Turkey during the First World War.

Armenian Genocide

During the years 1915 to 1918, Armenians were systematically removed from the Muslim majority society in the Ottoman Empire; they were put into camps or killed, simply because of their cultural and racial heritage. They were Christians.

Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction of a racial, political or cultural group (Miriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary, Miriam-Webster Incorporated, Springfield, Mass USA, 2008), such as was undertaken in Nazi Germany against the Jews and homosexuals during WWII, and in Turkey against the Armenian Christians, after they allied with the Germans in WWI.

Until I met and became friends with an Armenian a year or two ago, I had never heard of the Armenian genocide. I hadn’t realised that in the early 20th century Christians had faced persecution on a large — national and international — level. Now, as I look at the present day, such as when ISIS terrorists beheaded men at the waterside, for example, I realise persecution of Christians has been on the rise for some time. This is further evidence that we are in the Last Days before Jesus’ return (see 2 Timothy 3).

Last Days are Perilous Times

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3: 1-4) Does this also not describe the times we are in?

The persecution does not always begin with expulsion and death. Whether you are a baker in Belfast, N Ireland or in Oregon in America, you can be persecuted for your faith.

And those who speak on behalf of Christians or their values can also experience persecution. Never has a United States president had such hate thrust upon him, until President Trump. His inauguration speech called for unity and hope, citing Psalm 133 and that the unity of brethren pull together. He asked the citizens of America to stand in solidarity with one another, regardless of colour or economic situation. When a child of poverty, black, white or brown skin goes to bed at night in America, he looks up at the same sky as a child in wealth, black, white or brown skin, he said.

Attack on Trump

But his detractors inspired and continue to insight protest. Then, people raged and carried signs saying, “Not My President”. To my mind their behaviour was reminiscent of the brownshirts’ uprising in fascist Nazi Germany. And yet, they protest, accusing Trump of such sympathies.

Today, while Donald J Trump does himself no favours with his confrontational style and tweets, giving loads of ammunition to his enemies to use against him, he nevertheless has been vilified on a scale never before seen by a US president.

Why is this happening?

I believe at the heart of it is satan, working his way through the minds of those who dislike Trump, using them to attack so he can’t get on with government.

Why would satan take an interest?

Because Jesus is elevated by those who surround the president and Judeo-Christian values are at the heart of his policies.

There is persecution, there is a war going on. We are not to fear. We need to be aware and to be ready.

With persecution comes hope. Jesus will come “in the night”, and he will call us to himself.

We must be sure we have our lamps when he comes, and that they are fully prepped with the oil of the Holy Spirit. We must be dressed as the bride, ready for his call.

As we witness the signs: the deterioration of society and the persecution of Christians to name only two, we must see that the End is near. Jesus will come and he’ll call us to him. We need not to fear but to be ready.

Categories
Examining Biblical Scripture

Biblical Prophecy and the Fulfilment of Matthew 24

What does the fulfilment of Biblical Prophecy mean for the Watchman

I study Matthew 24 vigorously these days: wars and rumours of wars, earthquakes and pestilence; woe if the days were not shortened… but they will be shortened.

“And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows…” (vs 6-8)

“…And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.” (vs 22)

So, does shortened days mean fewer daylight hours, or fewer days before the end and Jesus’ return, or something else entirely?

On the one hand we read, “And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.”” (vs 3-4) This makes me think Jesus is not coming any time soon. Literally, there have not been many who have claimed to be the Messiah, so the end of our world as we know could still be a long way off.

On the other hand, there are the undeniable disturbances across our societies, which collectively we label Signs of the End Times.

When should we expect Jesus’ return?

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (vs 36)

End Signs:

There is an escalation of war. Recently the internet announced only 11 nations worldwide which are not locked in a state of aggression or war. (Global Peace Index)

There is an increase in disease and famine. We see cancer is on the rise and communicable diseases are spiralling in number and frequency. It seems that no sooner is one epidemic taken under control before another arises.

Moral law is on a slide into oblivion. “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” (vs 12) We seem unable even to speak the biological truth of the difference between boys and girls without being attacked for being homophobic.

As for me, as a Watchman, what do I do with the awareness of what it says in Matthew 24 and the signs which seem to be marking the end of our world as we know it?

I study, I pray, and I share what I detect with those who have ears to hear and eyes to see. No one knows the time the Messiah will come again, to bring judgement on the earth.

Be Prepared:

Those who know Jesus are called to be ready.

Are you ready with your lamp full of oil for the bridegroom’s arrival? (Matthew 25) In other words, are you ready to leave this life behind? Are you full of God’s anointing and blessing, walking in the New Man the best that your faith enables? Are you living the Love of God, ready to share the secret of your strength with those who ask?

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15)

Are you focused?

What if the internet is simply a ploy of the enemy to keep us busy, productive, in the flesh of the Old Man?

Do you know your value, your purpose and your calling in Jesus?

Are you obeying the law of God, namely to love Him and love your neighbour?

Are you living a life of righteousness, of being right with God and His principles?

What matters is not the success of your ministry or business. What matters is not how many connections you have on social media. What matters is not your productivity.

What matters is being surrendered, ready, and willing to follow Jesus, and to share your passion and commitment when asked to do so.

And if we are in End Times, then we all need to be ready, now.

Hebrew roots:

Most reading this post will be Gentile. But our roots are Jesus’ roots, and his roots are Jewish. He was the Hebrew of Hebrews. After 2000 years of sweeping this truth aside, the Jewish people are discovering the Messiah, and the body of Believers is recognising God’s passion for His ways as outlined in the Torah (OT).

As we seek to fulfil God’s purposes, I believe we need to rediscover the love He has for His festivals, His feasts, and His calendar. This is not legalism but love for the Father which we can convey through a celebration of His culture.

I have learned recently that there is a Gospel of Matthew in the original Hebrew available for study (one of several copies is in Caesarea). I’d like to study it. Most Bible New Testaments are derived from a Greek translation. But surely some impact has been lost through translating from Hebrew into Greek, and then into our native language. I would like to look at a translation direct from the Hebrew, to compare and contrast the Message. That hunger is not a fascination with languages but a passion for God, to know Him and to understand His intent.

And what of His Sabbath? Is the seventh day Saturday? Or is the Lord’s Day – what we call Sunday – the day to hold as the day of rest? We are not under law but under grace. And yet, I have a great desire to honour my God in all fullness, not because I have to but because I want to.

Christian Persecution:

As we attempt to gauge how close we might be to Jesus’ return, I look at how the world looks at the Christian. Around the world, people of the Christian Faith are in conflict with those of other faiths or no faith.

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.” (vs 9)

In times passed Christianity spear-headed humanitarian projects and expanded worldwide. Now, Christians in the USA and the UK face mocking, job loss, and imprisonment because they stand for their faith in Jesus as the only way to God. Middle Eastern Christians are losing their heads for their faith. In the Far East, Christians are in hiding, unable to worship freely in China and elsewhere.

Conclusion:

The reality is we do not know when the End will be. Nor are we meant to. We are meant to be ready though, to share the reason for our hope and to receive the bridegroom when he comes.

I believe we are saved by God’s grace and it is not works that save us but Faith, as found in Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

And yet, I also believe we are fully responsible for our faith and the outworking of it, as James says in Chapter 2:20 “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?”

Those who believe will find their peace, fulfilment and security in walking out their faith at the level of personal revelation they have.

As for me, I have received the revelation that it is possible to surrender and walk in the New Man (see Pursuit of Holiness), leaving behind the angst and wilfulness of the Old Man. That is my aim. Without that, I won’t be truly satisfied or free. Because of God’s incredible revelation, I find no satisfaction in anything less.

A Blessing:

In your walk, may you fulfil all grace, peace and joy that the Father God has for you, and may you be ready for His call in His perfect time.

Categories
Politics and Society today

Church Age: The End or Not?

Have we reached the End of the Church Age?

I’ve been observing the in/activity in the church for some years.

If God wants people to follow church, they will. But the decline in traditional church has been steady, even though there has been an increase in the number of new believers for decades.

What’s going on?

It is the end of the Church Age, I believe. The Age where Christendom dominates the setting of universal values has ended. We see this across Western culture. That which is abhorrent to God as evidenced in scripture has become the celebrated norm in many societies. Wrong has become right and right certainly has been labelled as wrong. Where Abortion on demand and LGTB rights have been declared as key to freedom, those with opposing values are labeled intolerant. The division, as demonstrated perhaps most clearly in US politics, has become so wide that there have been clashes, protests and even violence between the two sides.

A dear Messianic acquaintance said to me recently that the Church Age finished when Jerusalem was liberated from Gentile control in 1967. That could concur with the demise of values that began in the ’60’s and is ongoing. The morality of Judeo-Christian values has been in decline since the Sixties and in Britain and the US there is downright hostility toward anything that smacks of Biblical truth.

I believe the power and authority of the Church in our society has gone. Moving forward, God knew this time would come, and I don’t believe God’s strategy is to regain its influence, but rather to allow his God-ordained transformation to occur, so that the principles of God can again protect the people.

Do we ignore what is going on in our world and allow the decline? Certainly not. But I believe we must allow God to move differently from how He moved through the established church in the past.

What we need to do is to turn from our traditional concept of the practices of Christianity that are based on Constantine Christianity – aka Roman Catholicism and the spill over into Protestantism – and return to the 1st Century church that embraced its Judeo roots. Jesus was Jewish; as he was steeped in the culture God favoured, so must we learn to celebrate the festivals – not as Law but because it is what delights the LORD.

The Church Age has ended, with our false dates and festivals. We need to return to the Sabbath and the Festivals ordained by God. That’s what I think will bring us in to God’s blessing and freedom, and what will draw those whom He is calling to take notice.

Categories
Politics and Society today

Watchman on Alert: new blog focus starting today…

Introducing Words and Voices: for a more abundant life

“WATCHMAN ON ALERT”

Introducing Sarah Tun Words and Voices: for a more abundant life

Jesus is the foundation stone for all Believers. Without a foundation, the structure falls. Given the foundation, a structure is also necessary for advancement. The body needs a skeleton as a structure to hold all things in place. With that in mind, Larus Press is now under a new structure so that the ministry for “Building the Kingdom one reader at a time” can flourish.

I believe the LORD has led me to create a new structure for all things relating to this ministry to build up you who are already on the spiritual battleground and are seeking to be prepared for God’s Call moment by moment and day by day.

Sarah Tun Words and Voices is now the over-arching business and Larus Press is specifically the imprint for the books. Watchman on Alert is now the name of the Blog. The Soaring Post newsletter continues, drawing from Watchman on Alert posts just as they were previously LarusBlog posts. Added to that are my personal Reflections posted on the blog under An Examined Life continues, so that my journey is incorporated into the ministry.

I have a desire to spark God-given discernment in other Believers.

As I develop Insights, glancing through windows into God’s heart and piecing together the puzzle of our time, there is a prophetic element, a discerning from what I see. All things MUST BE TESTED by the Word of God and your own sense of conviction with the Holy Spirit. But I do feel it is the time and platform to articulate the questions and insights I discern through the events around us in these days and my journey through them.

To this I pray…

Dear Lord, As we stand on this precipice, and the world’s Towers of Babel unravel, LORD, we ask for your wisdom, strength and compassion on our brothers and sisters and for those who do not yet know you. You have promised many things in your Word, both difficult and beautiful. May we receive all you have as opportunities to grow and to offer a more abundant life to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

January, 2017

Categories
Reflections and Poetry

How to live: As though “Tomorrow is another day” vs “It’s now or never”

During December 2016 I had a prompt from deep within me: “Focus in 2017 because if you don’t do it now you won’t do it ever.”

So, what drives me is this sense of urgency to do all I’ve been called to do, now. To give all to God:

  1. following His lead obediently and passionately, as I surrender to the New Man within me, who is free from angst, self-will, frustration and impatience (which otherwise so often leads me into a state of emotional distraction that prevents me from living the joyful life Father has for me).2.
  2. publishing the documents – books and blogs – which have been on the shelf or in my heart and need to see the light of day, so that others can gain from the insights our Creator has given to me.
  3. supporting my family as wife and mother, so that my husband and son can be all they have been created to be, and express their love for Father in their unique and special ways.

I think storms lie ahead. In fact, we are in the storm even now, perhaps even in the eye of the storm.

Matthew 24 describes the latter days, the End Times before Jesus will return in glory, to judge the earth and to receive his Bride, also known as the Church of Believers….

So many of the earthquakes, rumours of wars, persecutions…. are in full swing already.

How do I cope? I focus on His call, and the responsibilities He’s given me to fulfil, now.

As I dig into God, I will overcome the trials and see His purposes fulfilled in my life.

Hebrews 6:19 reads, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.”

And there’s an old song based on this scripture:

First of five verses:

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,

When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,

Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

Refrain:

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,

Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.

I feel as though I’m on a stream train. At the start of 2017 it left the station, and I’m riding, not driving but nevertheless moving forward, gaining momentum. I’m moving from Calling into Ministry, gaining clarity, gaining speed, gaining momentum.

The fulfilment of God’s promises are imminent. He is intentional, and I join Him, carrying this sense that what I do now is imperative to His purposes.

This is the End of the Age.

Jesus will return.

There is already an almighty battle in the heavens which is manifesting on the earth.

Is the Battle of Armageddon imminent? Who knows when such things will come to pass?

My Call has been and is to inspire, encourage, equip, and empower Believers. Like Peter, who ministered to the Jews and who was convicted of His call to righteousness, my first call is to reach to those already following Jesus, and to compel them to complete their course, to fulfil their Call.

Never have I felt so compelled to be ordered, focused, alert, ready… never have I felt the promises of God so close to fulfilment. And so I choose to live as though “It’s now or never” because I think it is! And I encourage each of you to do the same.

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,

When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,

Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,

Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love.